The major targets are sex tourists who travel to countries where they won’t be heavily monitored.
Ireland could become the first EU state to restrict convicted child sex offenders from travelling abroad.
The Sex Tourism Bill has been brought forward by Independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan, and would require any convicted paedophiles to receive a judge’s permission before they could leave the country.
Deputy O’Sullivan has been working with children’s rights organisation PREDA Foundationon on the Private Members bill, which has passed the first stage in the Dáil.
Speaking about the importance of the bill, four-time Nobel Peace nominee and PREDA founder, Father Shay Cullen said:
“The passing of this amendment to the Sexual Offenders Act 2001 will curtain the child abuse sex tourism and protect children.
“It is high time for government and society to take action to support the bill and protect vulnerable impoverished children.”
Commenting on Newstalk, Cullen later said: “The problem is that many of these convicted paedophiles, when they get out of the jails, they know they will be monitored. They are on the register here in Ireland and they go abroad.”
“Many of them avoid Europe of course. They are monitored there by strict police.
“But in developing countries like the Philippines, Thailand or Cambodia there is really no monitoring or no controls and that is where they head.”
Father Cullen has devoted his life to rescuing street children in the Philippines, having set up there since 1974.
Earlier in 2017, Australia became the first country in the world introduce strict legislation against sex offenders who are attempting to leave the country.
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